After years of calling for new EU law to expand legal protection against different forms of discrimination, the European Commission finally be proposed a new anti-discrimination directive in June 2008.

This new horizontal directive is a unique opportunity to make sure that everyone is protected equally across the EU against discrimination based on sexual orientation, age, disability, religion and belief, not just in employment, but in all areas of life.

The proposed equality directive that is intended to provide the four grounds equal protection with that already available on the grounds of race and gender was approved by the European parliament and is currently blocked at the Council of Ministers. In order to pass the directive requires the consensus of all the 27 member states. Malta, hiding behind the German veto, is one of the countries blocking the directive. - click here